Plans underway to replace three aging naval vessels

PLANNING is underway to replace three of the Naval Service's aging vessels it emerged yesterday following the announcement of a €19 million increase in the defence estimate.

Substantial amounts of money will have to be set aside in the next five years as the LÉ Emer, LÉ Aoife and LÉ Aisling are decommissioned at the end of their 30-year lives.

No money has been set aside for the replacements in next year's Estimate of the more than €750m for Defence, with €22.8m for the department and most of the rest going on the forces.